Operation Use It Up

It seems like the months are just flying by, the closer that we get to the end of the year. Pretty soon, we'll be into the final quarter of 2011 and the avalanche of glittering holiday collections. Those are are always interesting to see (I'm looking forward to the new Meteorites by Guerlain!), plus they are followed very quickly by the spring collections.



Anyway, these are the products that I've managed to use up from my stash this month:



1. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate: This was awfully pricey at US$85 and annoyingly, the pump mechanism was broken from the start, but the pot was easy to open. It works well as an exfoliating treatment without being too abrasive but it does sting, so sensitive skintypes may want to stay clear of it. It now comes in a much more sensible squeeze tube and in three versions: Gentle, Intensive and Acne Clearing. I may re-purchase this in the future but probably only when there is a discount or attractive gift with purchase.



2. Daiso Puff/Sponge Detergent: A very thoughtful gift from a friend, this quickly became a weekly staple for thoroughly cleaning my foundation sponges. Now, I also use it in place of MAC Brush Cleanser sometimes to clean my brushes. It works faster than MAC Brush Cleanser for cleaning liquid foundation off brushes. And the price (S$2) is unbeatable! The only problem is finding it in stock at Daiso.



3. Lucido-L Designing Pump Hair Jelly (Swing Keep): This helped to keep my hair manageable but I'm not sure I like it enough to re-purchase it.



4. Jurlique Purifying Foaming Cleanser: I purchased this when it was on 50% discount at Robinsons. The usual retail price of S$64 is way too exorbitant for what is basically just an average foaming cleanser, albeit one that contains many essential oils. You're probably better off spending on a moisturiser or serum that will stay on your skin longer than the cleanser. I wouldn't re-purchase this because of the price tag, plus the cleanser tends to get caught inside the cap and turns into a gooey mess around the pump.



5. Paul & Joe Body Mask: I liked the orange flower scent of this body mask, and how it left my skin soft and smooth. Paul & Joe Singapore likes to give this away under their members' rewards programme, which is how I ended up with 3 tubes of it. I think it has since been discontinued as it is no longer listed on the Paul & Joe website. The tube lasted about 5-7 uses.



6. Lancome Bi-facil: This works well for removing most eye makeup, but not for the most stubborn of waterproof mascaras. I still prefer Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover which is much cheaper and just as effective.



7. Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish: Love the refreshing melon-y scent of this! The scrubby bits provide good exfoliating action without feeling too abrasive or sharp, and left my skin feeling extra smooth. I would purchase this.



8. H2O+ Raspberry Guava Body Butter: This absorbed very easily without any greasy feeling on the skin. It has a light sweet raspberry scent that isn't too cloying.



9. Crabtree & Evelyn Nantucket Briar Shower Gel: This was just an average shower gel for me as the scent wasn't that special.



10. L'Oreal Smooth Intense Smoothing Conditioner: I purchased this in India after seeing that it contained argan oil, so it might not be available in other countries. It worked well on my dry hair and left it free of tangles.



11. Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Treatment Mask: This was a free sample pot that came with a recent issue of Her World. It was enough for three uses, and left my hair feeling soft and easy to manage.

Operation Use It Up!

Managed to used up another batch of skincare products this month! It feels good to send these off to the recycling bin.

1. Body Shop Shea Shower Cream: I started using this when my skin was feeling very parched and flaky, and it worked pretty well although I still needed to apply a body moisturiser afterwards. The scent was quite ordinary and not that appealing to me so I doubt I will re-purchase it.

2. Body Shop Banana Shampoo: The yummy sweet banana scent was my favourite thing about this shampoo, which was a classic favourite that was brought back last year as part of the Body Shop's Originals collection. It's not as moisturising as Tsubaki shampoo, but at least it didn't leave my hair tangled.

3. Body Shop Banana Conditioner: Again, I love the scent but it's not as good as Japanese brands like Tsubaki and Asience in terms of moisturising power.

4. Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover: Very affordable and melts off virtually all my eyeshadows with just one light swipe. It can also remove most mascaras although the more stubborn waterproof ones require a bit more soaking against the cotton pad. This is already the second bottle that I've used up!

5. Kate Somerville Clearing Mask: This contains kaolin clay to absorb oil and impurities, plus phytic acid to lighten post-acne scars. Sadly, I didn't notice any significant results after using this mask.

6. Cosme Decorte AQ Clear Solution: This "Clarifying and Softening Fluid" works quite well as a toner after cleansing to refresh skin without any trace of stickiness. But when I'm in a dryer climate, following up with a separate moisturiser is a must.

7. Shu Uemura White Recovery EX+ Brightening Cleansing Oil: This melts off all makeup effectively, including the most stubborn waterproof mascaras, but it tends to leave my eyes feeling irritated and dry so I try not to use it to remove eye makeup unless necessary.

8. Clarins White Plus HP Intensive Whitening Smoothing Serum: This was a free sample that I picked up recently. I liked the light texture which absorbed readily and didn't make my skin oily. However, I didn't use it long enough to judge if it is actually effective at brightening up my skin tone.

9. RMK Face Protector SPF31: This was another deluxe sample received as part of a GWP. I love the light non-greasy texture which feels cooling upon application and absorbs almost instantly.

10. Urban Decay Clean & Sober: This is the second of two bottles that I received as GWPs at Sephora last year. I wouldn't purchase it as it stings my eyes and I don't think it cleanses as effectively as Shu Uemura cleansing oil or Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion.